A Google spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday to the L.A. Times that 4.5 million people added their names to the company's anti-SOPA online petition in one day. Google's petition, which is still available to sign as of Wednesday night, is linked from Google's homepage and was part of the search company's effort to increase awareness of the Protect IP Act and the Stop Online Piracy Act.

"Members of Congress are trying to do the right thing by going after pirates and counterfeiters but SOPA and PIPA are the wrong way to do it," the petition website says.

Google, which famously changes its logo on the homepage for holidays and special dates, blacked out its logo entirely, which it had never done before. A link to the petition website below the search fields read "Tell Congress: Please don't censor the web!"

The petition website bears the slogan "End Piracy, Not Liberty" and exhorts readers to take action by adding their names to a fast-growing list of other advocates against the controversial bills. According to Google spokesperson Christine Chen, the last number the company released was at 4:30pm ET, when they had accumulated 4.5 million signatures and counting.

Google's blacked-out logo and petition, along with similar actions taken by numerousotherwebsites that participated in Wednesday's online protests, appear to be earning the attention of politicians. Senators and congressmen from both political parties have already announced that they will either vote against or vote to amend the bills.